The Absolute Universe is an audacious new approach to comic book storytelling. It takes well‐known characters and their backstories, remaking them into all‐new stories. This fresh new take has drawn both praise and outrage from DC enthusiasts. Judging by their reactions, they’re split down the middle about how they feel about the new mythos. Arctic Avenger Mr. Freeze, for example, has had a radical reimagining. Once called Victor Fries Jr., he brings along a much more sinister take of the iconic baddie we’ve seen before.
Victor Fries Jr. is the son of the notorious Victor Fries and his wife Nora. He is currently head of a controversial company named V-Core, which produces and sells such cryonic technologies. This is the same company that now exhibits the frozen corpses of his mother and father to the public. Their terrifying show freezes the general public with wonder and fear. In this version, Mr. Freeze’s legacy stands out from the icy chill of winter’s frigid breath. It explores the emotional burden of familial trauma and the clutches of technological addiction.
In this twisted reality, characters have their identities radically altered to serve a story that is at once captivating and deeply disturbing. In this multiverse, that role is filled by the character commonly known as “Matches” Malone. Rather than serving merely as Bruce Wayne’s alter-ego, he is turned into Bruce Wayne’s childhood friend. This change raises issues of identity and loyalty against the backdrop of their complex shared history.
As Clark Kent undergoes his gigantic change, Lois Lane as well goes through a huge metamorphosis in the Absolute Universe. Through the lens of the Force Multiplier, she jumps out of that journalist role and into the role of corporate military agent. This dramatic change is the result of a growing corporatized, militarized world. This change highlights the shifting balance of power and gender in this universe. In doing so, it crafts a mood that is simultaneously contemporary and futuristic, yet dystopian.
The Kents, so frequently idealized as protective, stabilizing forces in Superman’s life, are either completely absent or offered a strange shadow of their significance in this reconfiguration. Beyond making his portrayal come off as more sinister, their decreased presence increases Superman’s isolation. For starters, he comes off a lot weaker than his classic self. In this world, his famous red cape has changed from a symbol of hope into something more magical. It’s been re-outfitted with new Kryptonian nanotechnology, powered by some seriously scary artificial intelligence. This combination of high-tech innovation and extraterrestrial heritage is the heart of this brave new world.
The Absolute Universe are ready to present spellbinding new adaptations of legendary champions. Look forward to amazing reimaginings of The Flash, Green Lantern and Martian Manhunter! Each character brings unique qualities that subvert their source stories, bringing a depth and nuance to their characters that enriches the plot. These character variants allow fans to interact with the characters in new and exciting ways. Therefore, they tend to give rise to vigorous debates over the appropriateness of these reimaginings.
Mr. Freeze’s evolution into Victor Fries Jr. lends a super creepy ghoulish appearance once he unleashes his powers. With a single touch, he can leech warmth from those around him. This power not only ups his threat level but forms a captivating dark and smoky image of his terrifying spirit. This portrayal furthers the notions of loss and the price we pay for progress—a theme that has appeared throughout the Absolute Universe.
Though Absolute Universe delivers on transformative storytelling with captivating prose and reinvented figures, responses to the Absolute Universe have continued to divide fans. Some argue that it’s irreverent, enjoying the new interpretations of characters we’ve known for decades, allowing them to enjoy the risks associated with changing well-established history. For some, they’re angry at what feels like a betrayal of established narratives and character development of fan-favorite plots.